Inside Story

Menu

National affairs

National affairs Stephanie Younane Brookes 10 August 2010 Tony Abbott’s family is playing an unprecedented role in this election, but will it shift votes, asks Stephanie Younane Brookes
National affairs Graeme Orr 6 August 2010 GetUp! has scored an unexpected victory in the High Court, giving an extra 100,000 people a chance to vote on 21 August and opening up the debate about the right to vote, writes… National affairs Rodney Tiffen 6 August 2010 As Australian political records tumble, Rodney Tiffen looks at the pitfalls of poll-watching and the lessons of post-war Australian elections National affairs Brian Toohey 4 August 2010 Despite the bipartisan consensus, Australia’s role in Afghanistan is demonstrably counterproductive, writes Brian Toohey National affairs Ben Eltham 29 July 2010 Culture and the arts have not featured prominently in this year’s election campaign. That’s a shame, writes Ben Eltham, because we badly need to debate…
National affairs Jane Goodall 29 July 2010 It’s a federal election, but most of the issues in South East Queensland are local, writes Jane Goodall in Toowomba
National affairs Norman Abjorensen 28 July 2010 It’s the focus on marginal seats that is excluding most of us from the election conversation, writes Norman Abjorensen, but that doesn’t mean the issues are… National affairs Ian Watson & Murray Goot 23 July 2010 The reasons for the Howard government’s electoral success are widely misunderstood National affairs Ben Eltham 23 July 2010 Schools policy is back on the election agenda, writes Ben Eltham. But will it lead to substantial reform? National affairs Peter Browne 16 July 2010 People might have strong feelings about asylum seekers, but there’s no sign in the latest polls that harsher measures are a vote winner, writes Peter Browne
National affairs Dahle Suggett 15 July 2010 Australian policymakers are undoubtedly watching developments in Britain and the United States with interest. But how much can we learn from systems that are so different from our…
National affairs Brian Toohey 8 July 2010 With the government and the opposition treading water, Brian Toohey looks at alternative ways forward National affairs Marian Sawer 7 July 2010 Judith Troeth is trying to persuade Liberals that the presence of more women in the parliamentary party will mean a larger pool of talent for ministerial and leadership positions,… National affairs Peter Browne 6 July 2010 Labor power brokers persuaded Julia Gillard to toughen up on border protection because they believed the issue was damaging the party. But are boat arrivals really as electorally… National affairs Jim Colman 1 July 2010 Forty-one mayors and a state government in crisis means that no one is in charge of Sydney, writes Jim Colman
National affairs Marian Sawer 30 June 2010 Compared with other countries, Australia’s progress in giving women access to political power is patchy, writes Marian Sawer
National affairs Jacqueline Kent 28 June 2010 Julia Gillard doesn’t owe the factions any favours, writes her biographer, Jacqueline Kent National affairs Geoffrey Barker 28 June 2010 Kevin Rudd’s downfall revealed the limits of Labor’s ability to introduce reforms opposed by powerful interests, writes Geoffrey Barker National affairs Norman Abjorensen 24 June 2010 The former PM never really understood the party he led, writes Norman Abjorensen National affairs Klaus Neumann 24 June 2010 A visit to Australia’s most remote outpost highlights the failure of the federal government to lead a rational debate, writes Klaus Neumann
National affairs Tony Smith 23 June 2010 Have the wrong kind of people – men – wielded too much power in New South Wales, asks Tony Smith
National affairs Ross Buckley 22 June 2010 The Australian government should swing its support behind the growing international campaign for a banking levy, writes Ross Buckley, and then it should join the push for… National affairs Peter Brent 17 June 2010 A change of leader is the last thing the government needs National affairs Rodney Tiffen 17 June 2010 Combined with the shortcomings of the media’s reporting, the government’s weaknesses are hiding some pretty good news, writes Rodney Tiffen National affairs Norman Abjorensen 16 June 2010 Although he’s largely unknown outside the ACT, Jon Stanhope is one of Australia’s most intriguing political figures, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs Geoffrey Barker 10 June 2010 Despite the puzzling poll results, it would be premature to write off the government, says Geoffrey Barker
National affairs Stephanie Brookes 9 June 2010 The federal government has increased the stakes in the debate over mining taxes. Stephanie Brookes looks at the thinking behind the government’s ad blitz –… National affairs Peter Mares 3 June 2010 Legislation before parliament will give the immigration minister new power to “terminate” certain classes of visa application, reports Peter Mares National affairs Peter Brent 27 May 2010 The heart sees a government in big trouble; the head knows that first-term governments usually survive. Either way, it’s time for the government to throw away its rulebook,… National affairs Peter Browne 25 May 2010 Why did most of the media run dead on the Securency bribery allegations?